Johns Hopkins University Scholar Presents Data Showing Gender Wage Gap Is Widest in Wealthy Countries

It is widely known that women in the United States, on average, make less than 80 cents on the dollar compared to their male peers. The gender earnings gap is seen throughout the world.

But a new study by Mario Macis, an associate professor at the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, finds that the gender earnings gap is largest in the world’s most wealthy countries. This is true despite the fact that the gender education gap in the world’s wealthiest countries is smaller or nonexistent.

Dr. Macis’ data shows that in countries with a per capital gross domestic product between $10,000 and $30,000, women’s earnings were 82 percent of men’s earnings. But in nation’s where the per capita gross domestic product was greater than $30,000, women’s earnings averaged only 76 percent of those of men.

“Eliminating legal discrimination against women and promoting policies to counteract discrimination and cultural and social norms that, in many countries, have traditionally assigned women subordinate roles should be critical policy goals,” Dr. Macis says.

The study, “Gender Differences in Wages and Leadership,” was published in the journal IZA World of Labor. It may be accessed here.